Microscope Telescope Optics for Refractive-Index Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscopes face challenges in volume imaging of biological samples due to significant variations in refractive indices within the sample, leading to spherical imaging aberrations, especially with high numerical apertures.
Innovation Solution
An optical system for a microscope featuring a telescope system with an adjustable optical correction unit to correct spherical aberrations and a zoom optical unit to adapt magnification to the refractive index ratio, ensuring telecentricity over a range, using a pupil-regulated zoom system and afocal telescope design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high numerical aperture is used in conventional microscopes for volume imaging, then the imaging resolution is improved, but spherical imaging aberrations increase due to refractive index mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the magnification of the telescope system to match the ratio of refractive indices between object and image spaces. This adaptive parameter adjustment compensates for spherical aberrations caused by refractive index mismatches, allowing high numerical aperture imaging without the usual degradation in image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by making the telescope system magnification adjustable and adaptable rather than fixed. The magnification can be dynamically changed to correspond to the refractive index ratio, enabling the system to adapt to different imaging depths and sample conditions, thereby maintaining optimal performance across varying optical conditions.
2Device complexity
If the magnification of the telescope system is fixed, then the system structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to variations in refractive index ratio with imaging depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static magnification into a dynamic parameter that can be adjusted. The telescope system includes variable magnification capability that allows adaptation to different refractive index ratios encountered at different imaging depths, making the system versatile without requiring complete redesign for each condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables parameter changes by allowing the magnification value to be modified according to the refractive index ratio. This parameter adaptability resolves the contradiction by enabling the same physical system to operate optimally under varying optical conditions through controlled parameter adjustment rather than structural redesign.
3Reliability
If the magnification is adapted to the refractive index ratio for aberration-free imaging, then imaging quality is improved, but the system requires adjustable magnification capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by enabling magnification adjustment in the telescope system. This allows the magnification to be set according to the refractive index ratio, ensuring aberration-free imaging while using a relatively simple mechanism that modifies an existing parameter rather than adding complex subsystems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables aberration-free volume imaging by compensating for refractive index mismatches, maintaining telecentricity and afocality across varying magnifications, and allowing flexible adjustment for different refractive index environments.
Implementation Method 1
a telescope system (104), having an optical correction unit, which is adjustable in order to correct a spherical imaging aberration
Implementation Method 2
having a zoom optical unit, which is adjustable in order to adapt a magnification of the telescope system to a ratio of two refractive indices
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system for a microscope for imaging an object includes: a telescope system having an optical correction unit, which is adjustable in order to correct a spherical imaging aberration, and having a zoom optical unit, which is adjustable in order to adapt a magnification of the telescope system to a ratio of two refractive indices, one of which is assigned to an object side and an other of which is assigned to an image side, within a predetermined magnification range. The telescope system is telecentric over an entire magnification range both with respect to the object side and with respect to the image side by the zoom optical unit contained in the telescope system.